The fourth annual World Series of Poker Europe has solidified its tournament schedule, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., owner and operator of the world’s most prestigious poker tournaments announced today.

The 2010 World Series of Poker Europe will feature five bracelet tournaments this year – the most ever offered.

“We held steady at 57 events in Las Vegas despite last year’s record attendance,” said WSOP vice president Ty Stewart.  “The increase here is thoughtful and consistent with the growing stature of this event.”

Capitalizing on excitement created for the Las Vegas championship of the discipline, a special Six-Handed No Limit Hold’em event will kick off the tournament on Tuesday, September 14, and feature a £2,500 buy-in and a 3-day structure.

The popular £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha and £1,000 No Limit Hold’em events will be the 2^nd and 3^rd bracelet events on the schedule and then a new £10,000 Heads-Up tournament has been added on Tuesday, September 21 to precede the fifth and final event, the £10,000 Main Event Championship.

The £10K heads-up will be the highest buy-in heads-up tournament ever contested in Europe and even higher than the Las Vegas counterpart.

“We are really excited about the 2010 schedule for WSOP Europe,” said Stewart.  “The WSOPE has found its place as a tournament about prestige, where the best of the best come together to play poker.  We think the new heads-up event will resonate with the worlds top players and the six-handed event is something that is becoming synonymous with the WSOP. “

The WSOPE will be held from September 14-28, 2010 in the heart of Leicester Square at the Casino at the Empire in London, England.   The Casino at the Empire has been a hotbed of poker activity since hosting the WSOPE, with regular cash games and tournaments running around the clock.  The casino now stays open 24-hours a day and has begun offering satellite tournaments for the WSOPE.  Visit www.lciclubs.com for more details.

“We are so excited to welcome the top poker players from all over the world to WSOPE 2010 – Europe’s most prestigious poker tournament and the only event outside of Las Vegas at which players can win a coveted WSOP bracelet,” said Michael Silberling, CEO of London Clubs International. “This is the fourth year we have hosted the event at Casino at The Empire, which has rapidly become London’s premier poker venue, and we have every expectation that the 2010 event will be bigger and better than ever before.”

Players can pre-register for the WSOPE at any London Clubs International (LCI) venue in the UK or at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

For the first time since WSOPE was formed, real money poker is available online to UK residents at WSOP.com.  Unique and exciting offers will be tied to WSOP Europe participation for UK residents including satellites.  If you are a UK resident, check out WSOP.com for the latest details on how to qualify for the 2010 WSOP Europe.

These five tournaments will be sanctioned gold bracelet events.  Non-stop cash games will also be scheduled during the tournament, as well as a bevy of satellite tournaments in the weeks leading up to each event.   The Casino at the Empire does not require membership for admission.

The 2009 World Series of Poker Europe was broadcast on ESPN/ESPN2 in the United States, Channel 4 in the UK and various broadcasters around the world.

During the WSOP in Las Vegas (May 27 - July 17), players can pre-register for WSOP Europe at the tournament cage.

WSOPE in London complements the WSOP held annually in Las Vegas.   During the first three years of the WSOPE, eleven gold bracelets have been awarded along with £15,110,500 in prize money.

The biggest names in poker have participated in WSOPE including:  Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, Dave “Devilfish” Ulliott, Daniel Negreanu, John Juanda, Gus Hansen, Eric Seidel, Mike Matusow, Joe Hachem, Vanessa Rousso, Andy Bloch, David Benefield, Ivan Demidov, Sorel Mizzi, Jennifer Tilly, Layne Flack, Andrew Black, Barry Greenstein, Tom Dwan, Chris Ferguson, Scotty Nguyen, Max Pescatori, Chris Bjorin, Allen Cunningham, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Patrik Antonius, John Phan and Annette Obrestad.

4^th Annual World Series of Europe Gold Bracelet Tournament Schedule